How hot it is! The mantra that accompanies us in the most suffocating days can be interrupted, at least for a while, by some refreshing remedy within everyone’s reach. The secret lies in the leaves of one of the most common aromatic plants in our balconies and gardens: peppermint. The plant with an intense green leaf, in fact, boasts a very strong aroma. The reason? Compared to the hundreds of naturally occurring mint varieties it is particularly rich in essential oils and menthol. This very substance proves to be a burst of freshness in drinks, dishes and body lotions. But not only.
The benefits of peppermint
Peppermint, which it can be white or black depending on the color of its flowers and the shades of the leaves, it brings many benefits. Which? Acts on the gastrointestinal tract relieving heartburn, cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. It helps in the elimination of intestinal gas and can also act by preventing menstrual pains. It also possesses antiseptic properties and locally acts as antipruritic following insect bites, and it turns out to be soothing on sunburned skin. Finally, it is also considered a soothing of headache. All thanks to menthol, in fact, with which it is widely equipped.
Moreover, although the variety known today is different from that of the ancients as a result of hybridization, even the father of medicine Hippocrates recommended its use, as a diuretic and as an aphrodisiac. The ancients also loved it for its perfume and mixed it with olive oil to heal wounds and chewed it to fight bad breath. In the Arab tradition it is widely used in the kitchen for its intense aroma together with meats and vegetables. But also in the very fragrant tea, a real refreshing drink-icon based on fresh leaves and boiling water, strictly poured from above to disperse the heat and spread its essence even more.
The refreshing recipes
And drawing from ancient wisdom and from that open-air pharmacy that is nature, we too can use it to the fullest, above all as an anti-heat remedy. In the kitchen he adds sprints to vegetables and salads, passing through fruit salads and summer fruits such as watermelon, strawberries and melons. But it is as a drink that gives its best against the heat: the syrup, which anyone can try their hand at making themselves, is the basis for cocktails, sorbets and popsicles. As well as the infusion: to drink and dab on the skin as a sedative; as a refreshing mouthwash; and as an anti-swelling foot bath for feet and ankles.
In the gallery found all recipes to get the best out of the aromatic leaves, which refresh from head to toe!
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
